A Franklin Lakes man accused of killing a 92-year-old man in a Teaneck crash in June 2022 claims an issue with his car’s brakes contributed to the deadly collision.

Scott Lieberman was indicted on vehicular homicide charges in March 2023 in the death of Albert Schnellbacher after initially being charged with reckless manslaughter in October 2022. Lieberman is accused of hitting Schnellbacher’s Chevy Equinox with his new Ferrari Competizione as Schnellbacher was trying to turn left on Windsor Road from Briarcliff Road in Teaneck. Lieberman was accused of driving recklessly, crossing the yellow line and speeding before he hit Schnellbacher’s SUV. Lieberman was released with conditions on Oct. 6, 2022.

Lieberman, who filed a lawsuit against Ferrari in Superior Court Tuesday, bought the car from World Wide Ferrari in Spring Valley, New York on June 18, 2022, a week before the crash. Also named in the suit is Ferrari North America Inc., Ferrari Group North America Inc. and New Country Motor Group Inc.

World Wide Ferrari did not immediately return a message for comment.

The lawsuit said the brakes in the Ferrari failed, which caused the collision with Schnellbacher’s car.

“Because of this collision and from the perspective of Schnellbacher’s estate, who had no knowledge of the braking defect, both civil and criminal actions were initiated against Lieberman, both of which are still pending,” the lawsuit said.

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According to the lawsuit, Lieberman went to yield at a stop sign but the brakes didn’t work and it caused him to cross into Schnellbacher’s path.

The suit accuses Ferrari of knowing about the braking defect, which involved the brake reservoir cap and other parts of the braking systems.

“Ferrari determined that the defect, without correction, could result in a partial and/or total brake failure and substantially increase the risk of a crash and substantially increase the risk of serious bodily injury or death,” the lawsuit stated.

Lieberman said no one at Ferrari told him of the vehicle defect and the risk it posed. He said their failure to tell him about the defect resulted in him being exposed to “serious civil and criminal consequences” that caused him physical and emotional harm.

Additionally, the lawsuit said Ferrari issued a recall in October 2021 for “a large class of Ferrari vehicles.” The suit said despite this recall and prior knowledge of the brake defect, the car was still sold to Lieberman without him having any idea of the defect and its potential for total brake failure.

The suit claims the defendants had a duty to “exercise reasonable care and to comply with existing standards of care” when it came to their cars but failed to do so which resulted in Lieberman’s injuries and the injuries should have been foreseeable.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants purposefully “misrepresented and concealed, suppressed and omitted facts” that they knew regarding the brake defect and did know or should have known the design was defective. Lieberman said he had no reason to believe the vehicle would have a defective braking system, especially considering the substantial cost of the car and that he would have expected his vehicle was functioning properly. The suit said the defendants suppressed the facts in order to “enhance the marketability of their vehicles and protect their profits” and that a recall would “diminish the value and reputation” of Ferrari.

“This was done with complete disregard of the impact it would have on the safety of its operators such as Lieberman and his passengers and the public,” the lawsuit stated.

The suit accuses the defendants of negligence by failing to inform Lieberman of the defect and that they violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and the New Jersey Product Liability Act.

Lieberman currently has two civil suits pending against him, one from his passenger and one from Schnellbacher’s estate in addition to the pending criminal charges.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Teaneck NJ driver files lawsuit in fatal 2022 crash